Apparatus for handling continuous castings



1952 HARTER, JR, ETAL 2,582,329

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING CONTINUOUS CASTINGS Filed April 15, 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet l [saac Harzfenfi d George/4. Pay/2 INVENTOR'S F g- .w BY' ATTORNEY Jan. 15, 1952 1. HARTER, JR ETAL APPARATUS FCR HANDLING CONTINUOUS CASTINGS 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 15, 1948 1; J? 4 ugh a A E H cm a aw BG W ATTORNEY Jan. 15, 1952 1. HARTER, JR, ETAL 2,582,329

- APPARATUS FOR HANDLING CONTINUOUS CASTING-S Filed April 15, 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 w mw ATTO R N EY 1952 1. HARTER, JR, ETAL 2, 8

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING CONTINUOUS CASTINGS Filed April 15, 1948 '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS q' 8 George A. Pug/7 ATTO R N EY Jan. 15, 1952 1. HARTER, JR, ETAL 2,

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING CONTINUOUS CASTINGS I Filed April 13, 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 [saac HaregJrk Q George/4 Pu 9/1 INVENTORS O :0 BY mm l-mi ulwfli n J 1,. J J

ATTO RNEY 1952 l. HARTER, JR, ETAL 2,582,329

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING CONTINUOUS CASTINGS Filed April 13, 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet e swlllllllllllllg Isaac HariecJrk George A. Pug/7 INVENTORS ATTORNEY Jan. 15, 1952 1. HARTER, JR, ETAL 2,582,329

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING CONTINUOUS CASTINGS Filed April 13, 1948 7 Sheet:Sheet 7- m2 FY9241! 7 Isaac Harrier??? mun|numnmnmun'mm o fiV ViiT C J -S M 1/4 l/d 1/9 ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 15, 1952 APPARATUS FOR HANDLING CONTINUOUS CASTINGS Isaac Barter, Jr., Beaver, Pa., and George A. Pugh, Youngstown, Ohio, assignors to The Babcock & Wilcox Tube Company, West Mayfield,

Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application April 13, 1948, Serial No. 20,738

Claims.

The present invention relates in general to apparatus for handling vertically delivered elongated metal products, and more particularly to the handling of an elongated continuous casting as it is produced by a commercial continuous casting apparatus.

In the continuous casting of metals an open ended mold is usually arranged in an upright position to receive molten metal at its upper end, to solidify the metal therein by heat exchange with a cooling fluid and for the removal of the casting from its lower end. For the production of a commercially satisfactory casting the rate of molten metal delivery to the mold and the cooling rate therein are coordinated and maintained substantially uniform for the continuous withdrawal of the casting from the mold at a substantially uniform rate. Under these conditions the longitudinal axis of the casting withdrawn from the mold is essentially vertical and its length is limited only by the amount of molten metal delivered to the upper end of the mold. As a considerable amount of heavy equipment is positioned above the delivery level of the continuous casting, it is necessary to limit the height of such equipment to minimize the cost of the supporting structure. Such a height limitation requires the use of apparatus for cutting the elongated casting in suitable lengths and their prompt removal from the delivery zone to provide space for the continuous downward movement of the succeeding casting.

The delivered metal product might in some instances be deflected or bent from its upright delivery position through an angle of 90, or less. to a discharge position. However, such a procedure is dependent upon the character of the material and its cross-sectional dimensions, and the apparatus would be unduly heavy for use with the continuous casting of steel with which the present invention is particularly concerned.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide apparatus for the removal of a vertically delivered elongated metallic product so of severing a continuous casting while it is moving in a substantially vertical direction from the casting mold and to transfer the severed casting to a position out of alignment with the casting mold. A further object is to provide apparatus for sequentially cutting a vertically delivered continuous casting to predetermined lengths and removing each length of casting from the casting apparatus independently of the formation of the continuous casting.

The various features of novelty which characterize our invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its use, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which we have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of our invention.

01 the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevation view of the handling apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention as associated with a continuous casting machine;

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the dummy rod used in the continuous casting operation;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view, partly in section, of the casting cutting apparatus;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 4a is a vertical section taken on the line lit-4a of Fig. 4;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged elevation 01' the handling apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Figs. '7, 8 and 9 are horizontal sections taken on the lines 1-1, 8-8 and 99, respectively, of Fig. 6;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged elevation view of another portion of the casting handling apparatus shown in Figs. land 6;

Fig. 11 is a vertical section taken on the line that as the product is delivered it is removed in ll-H of Fig. 10; and a. relatively short section to make way for the Fig. 12 is an elevation of the casting cutting subsequently delivered length of product. A furapparatus.

ther and more specific object is to provide apparatus of the character described which is capable of severing a vertically delivered continuous casting into convenient lengths and delivering the lengths of casting to a point of use or storage without interrupting or interfering with the continuity of the casting process. An additional specific object is o provide apparatus capable While our improved handling apparatus is adapted for use in the continuous casting of substantially all metals and alloys, ourapparatus described herein is particularly designed and especially useful for the handling of continuously cast carbon and alloy steels of the larger cross sectional dimensions.

In the continuous casting of metals, the molten metal, such as steel or other metal or alloy is introduced into one end of an upright mold, solidified therein and a semi-finished product ready for final shapin and finishing is delivered from the opposite end of the mold. A continuous casting system of this type is disclosed and claimed in a co.pending application of I. Harter, I. Harter, Jr., and O. R. Carpenter, Serial No.

10,956, filed February 26, 1948, and is shown metal into the upper end of and along the axial center of an associated casting mold assembly I2.

The metal pouring rate from the ladle II is regulated by tilting the ladle about an axis, where the angle of tilt is determined by a motor driven drum hoist 36 connected to one end of the ladle frame by a cable 33 which is passed through a pair of pulleys 35. The molten metal is solidified in the mold assembly I2 by heat exchange with a cooling fluid and continuously withdrawn therefrom as a continuous casting I3 at a controlled rate by a set of power-driven pinch rolls I4. The continuous casting thereafter passes to the handling portion I of the apparatus where the casting I3 is sequentially cut to predetermined lengths and delivered to a horizontal conveyor for transportation to a point of use or storage (not shown).

In initiating the formation of a continuous casting a dummy casting or starting bar I64, such as illustrated in Fig. 2, is inserted in the mold with its upper end positioned intermediate the length of the mold assembly I2 and with its lower end engaged by the rolls I4. The bar I64 is constructed in a series of short sections I65 for convenience in handling, with the sections held together by means of a pin I66 so that the bar may be assembled and disassembled quickly and easily.-

After molten metal has been delivered to the pouring ladle II and cooling water is circulating through the mold assembly I2, the molten metal is delivered to the mold cavity defined at its lower end by the top of the starting bar I64. When the molten metal level in the mold has reached a predetermined point adjacent its upper end, the pinch rolls M are started to withdraw the bar I64 at a uniform selected rate coordinated with the molten metal delivery and the water cooling rate to form an elongated continuous casting. Due to the length of the starting bar, which extends from the rolls to an intermediate position within the mold assembly I2, each successive section I65 of the starting bar projecting below the rolls I4 is disconnected, withdrawn and conveniently stored for future use. Alternately, the starting bar I64 may be lowered as a unit to the ground level by the handling apparatus I5 and stored for future use. Under such circumstances the bar may be reclaimed from ground level storage and reinstalled in the mold to repeat a continuous casting run by a reversal of the handling apparatus, as will be hereinafter apparent.

It will be noted in Fig. 2 that a head I61 on the upper end of the starting bar IE4 is provided with a cap screw I68 threaded into the upper end thereof. The lower end of the continuous casting I3 solidifies around and grips the upwardly extending shank and head of the cap screw I63, substantially as shown in Fig. 2 whereby the initially formed casting I3 is withdrawn from the mold by the pinch rolls I4 acting on the bar I64. When the last detachable section I65 of the bar is removed below the rolls I4, the head I61 may bearemoved by unscrewing from the cap screw The continuous casting I3 formed in the mold assembly I2 moves downwardly below the pinch rolls I4 into a trough or cradle 6I and when the lower end of the casting approaches a shelf 68 at the bottom of the cradle, a cutting torch 62 is arranged to transversely cut the casting to a predetermined length for subsequent ease of handling and delivery to point of use. The position of the shelf is adjustable longitudinally of the cradle to correspond with the length of severed casting delivered by the apparatus. when the lower end of the continuous casting approaches the shelf 66 the torch is used to sever the casting. The casting drops onto the shelf, with the cradle and the severed casting 63 thereafter tilted out of alignment with the following portion of the continuously discharging casting. The cradle lowers the severed casting 63 to a horizontal position where it is removed from the cradle by a roller conveyor 64. As soon as the severed casting section is removed, the cradle is returned to an upright position to receive the succeeding section of the continuous casting wherein the handlingprocess is repeated, periodically delivering casting lengths to the conveyor 64.

The cutting torch 62 is of the oxy-acetylene type and is mounted on a carriage 65 which is arranged for vertical movements within predetermined limits between the rolls I4 and the cradle 6i. This apparatus is shown particularly in Figs. 3, 4, 4a, 5 and 12 wherein the carriage 65 is provided with two pairs of wheels 66 arranged in pairs to bear upon opposite flanges of two horizontally spaced vertically extending channel irons 61. A counterweight 66 counterbalances the weight of the carriage 65 and when the cutting torch carriage is free of the casting I3 the weight 66 helps in manually raising the carriage to an upper position. The upper position of the carriage 65 is determined by a stop 66 limiting the downward movement of the counterweight. The upper portion of the carriage is provided with a pair of jaws I66 pivoted about a pin IM and connected by a linkage I62 and a cross head to the piston rod 66 of a doubleacting power cylinder- I63. Compressed air is selectively delivered to one or the other sides of the piston of the cylinder I63 to advance or retract the piston rod 66. As shown in Figs. 3 and 12 the rod 66 is in an advanced position so that the jaws I66 grip the casting 13. Thus the carriage moves vertically downward with the casting and the torch carried on the carriage may be used to sever the casting with a transverse out. When the casting has been severed by the torch the jaws gripping the casting are released by a reverse action of the power cylinder piston and the carriage is returned to its upper position for the next cutting operation as may be required by the continuous discharge of the casing I3. With the carriage 65 clamped to the casting l3 and moving in a-vertical direction therewith, the tip of the cutting torch 62 may be moved in a curved path in a horizontal plane normal to the axis of the casting I3.

The torch 62 is removably mounted in a pair of y 5 brackets I05 depending which is movably supported in a horizontal plane spaced from the bottom plate of the carriage 95 by a pair of spaced cranks. Each crank includes a pin I01 rotatably supported in a pivot bearing I06 secured to the plate I04 and having a clevis H at its upper end which is clamped in a fixed position by a transverse bolt III extending through a slot I08 in the crank arm II2. Each crank arm is further provided with an upwardly projecting pin H3 at its opposite end which is rotatably mounted in the carriage 95. A variation in the effective crank throw is obtained by changing the clamped position of the bolt III in the slot I 08, thereby altering the horizontal spacing between the pins I01 and H3. With this construction the curvilinear path of the tip of the torch 92 may be varied in radius to conform to the outside diameter of the continuous casting I3.

The transverse movement of the torch 92 is accomplished by rotation of a transverse screw II4 engaging an internally threaded sleeve H6. The screw H4 is supported by bearings II5 mounted in the frame of the carriage 95 while the sleeve II5 carries a block II8 slidably engaging a guide II9which is bolted to the plate, I04. The screw is rotated by means of a handwheel II1 through a pair of bevel gears. With the construction described the sleeve I I6 moves in a lineal directions as fixed by the carriage 95 while the plate I04 and its supported torch moves in an are by reason of its crank support. The relative movement of the block I I8 and the guide I I9 also permit movement of the torch in a lineal direction at right angles to the direction of sleeve movement so that all progressive position of the torch are in parallelism.

The cradle 9i of the handling portion I5 of the continuous casting apparatus is shown in Figs. 1 and 6, wherein the cradle with a severed casting 93 supported therein is shown in Fig. 6 in an upright position (shown in solid lines) immediately after the casting is severed by the torch 92, the cradle in an intermediate position (shown in dot-dash lines), and the cradle in a horizontal position (shown in dotted lines) immediately prior to the removal therefrom of the severed casting by the conveyor 94. As shown in Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9, the cradle III is formed by a pair of side channel members I20 and I2I arranged back to back and spaced apart by a set of bottom channel members I22 transversely extending across the bottom I23 of the cradle. The channel members I22 are spaced longitudinally of the cradle 3| to provide openings therebetween matching the rolls of the conveyor 94 when the cradle is in its horizontal position. The top I24 of the cradle, to the left in Fig. 6, is open so that the cradle may be returned to its upright position after delivering one severed casting, without interfering with the withdrawal of the succeeding section of the continuous casting I3. Depending upon the rate of withdrawal of the continuous casting through the rolls I4, the projecting length of unsevered casting may extend downwardly a major portion of the height of the handling portion I5 of the apparatus before the cradle 9| can not be returned to its upright position after the discharge of the preceding section of casting. Any interruption in the continuous casting process must be avoided to maintain a desirable uniformity of product, thus the cradle must be open at the top to accommodate succeeding sections of the casting I3.

from a carrier plate I04 The cradle 9| is guided in its movement between a vertical and horizontal position by a pair of flanged wheels I25 on an axle I26 attached to wheels I25 are guided by a pair of rails I3I vertically extending from the foundation to a level above the uppermost location of the wheels when the cradle is in an upright position. A second pair of rail I3I' extend vertically upward from the foundation to an intermediate height and are in spaced parallel relationship to the rails I3I a distance corresponding generally to the diameter of the wheels I 25. 'A separate pair of rails I32 extend vertically from the foundation level a short distance to guide the wheels I21 in their vertical movement. The rails I32 extend horizontally from the lower ends of the rails I32 and are joined therewith by curved members I32", providing continuous tracks to guide the movement of ,the wheels I21. The gauge of the wheels I25 is greater than the width of the cradle, so that the cradle is free to pivot about the axle I25 in its downward movement.

The severed casting 93 and its supporting cradle 9| are lowered from the upright position to the horizontal by an electrically-driven drum hoist I33 equipped with a magnetic brake and connected to the axle I26 by a pair of cables I34. The cables pass over a pair of sheaves I35 which are rotatable about a fixed axis on the structural framework supporting the continuous casting apparatus. Advantageously, a counterweight I28 is provided for the cradle 9|. The axis of the sheaves I35 is horizontally offset from the vertical plane of the axle I25 to insure the seating 0f the wheels I25 upon the rails I 3I, while the weight of the cradle pivoting about the axle I25 insures the bearing of the wheels I21 against the rails I32.

After the continuous casting has been severed by the torch 92 as previously described, the upper end of the severed casting 93 is forced toward the bottom I23 of the cradle 9| and held in that position until the outward swing of the upper end of the cradle, as determined by the downward movement of the guide wheels I25 and I21, has progressed to a point whereby the weight of the casting will hold it in position against the bottom of the cradle. The movement of the upper end of the severed casting 93 in the cradle is accomplished by a manually controlled power piston I30 which is supported on the framework of the continuous casting apparatus, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, and arranged with its piston rod I31 bearing on one end of a channel member I40. The channel is pivoted at its upper end about a shaft I mounted on the supporting framework of the apparatus. Thus, when a pressure fluid is applied to the power piston I36 the piston rod I31 pushes the lower end of the channel I40 into the open top I24 of the cradle and against the severed casting, pushing the casting laterally toward the bottom I23 to rest against the members I22. The action of the piston is controlled by limit switches (not shown) allowing it to push only when the cradle is near its upright position.

With the lower end of the severed casting 93 supported on the shelf 99 and its upper end restin against the bottom I23 of the cradle, the hoist I33 is operated to feed out the cables I34 to lower the cradle to its casting discharge position. The casting is removed from the cradle by the conveyor 84. The conveyor 94 includes a series of circumferentially grooved rollers I42, some of which are motor-driven as shown in Fig. 9, with the spacing between individual rollers such as to match corresponding openings in the bottom I23 of the cradle Due to the necessity for speed in completing the handling cycle for each severed casting, the cradle is lowered to its horizontal casting discharge position with considerable speed. With such a lowering speed and the lever action in pivoting about the axes I26 and I30, the cradle supported severed casting is capable of delivering a damaging blow to the rollers I42 upon reaching its horizontal discharge position. In order to protect the bearing mounted rollers from such a blow, a shock absorbing device I43 is arranged to retard the final angular movement of the cradle in bringing the casting into contact with the grooved rollers.

The shock absorber is shown in detail in Figs. and 11 and includes a piston I44 pivotally attached at its lower end to a frame I45 which is rigidly secured to the framework I46 supporting the rollers I42 of the conveyor. The upper end of the piston rod I41 of the piston I44 is arranged for a pivotal connection with a spaced pair of L shaped arms I50 which are also pivoted about a shaft I5I mounted in the framework I46 of the conveyor. The pivotal connection between the piston rod I41 and the arms I50 is shown in section in Fig. 11 and includes a transversely bored cross head I52 attached to the end of the rod I41 and arranged to receive a cross shaft I53 which is bolted at each end to the upper end of both arms I50. A pair of rollers I54 are rotatably mounted on the shaft I53 between the cross head I52 and each arm I50. A pair of contact shoes I55 are rigidly attached in alignment with the cradle side members I and I2I and with a channel member I22 of the bottom I23 as a means for transferring the downward thrust of the cradle 9| to the rollers I54.

Thus, when the cradle is lowered from a position of initial contact between the shoes I55 and the rollers I54 such as indicated in Fig. 10, to a final casting discharge position as indicated by the dot-dash lines, the shock absorber cushions the shock of bringing the severed casting 93 into contact with the rollers I42 of the conveyor 94. During the downward movement of the cradle in contact with the shock arrestor there will be a slight movement of the cradle to the left which will be taken on the cross arm I52 and the fixed shaft I5I. This will avoid transmitting the side thrust to the piston rod I41.

The cylinder I44 is supplied with compressed air, at a predetermined pressure sufficient to raise the empty cradle from its lowest position, through a supply line I51 and a conventional one-way valve I60. When the loaded cradle forces the piston downward to compress the air in the cylinder, the speed of lowering to the final cradle position is governed by adjustment of the bleeder valve I55. With the cradle 9| in its discharge position the casting is in contact with the rollers I42 which remove the casting from the cradle. Immediately after the casting is removed, the cradle is returned to its upright position to receive the succeeding length of continuous casting I3, and the handling process repeated.

The safety device IBI is installed between rollers of the conveyor at a position adjacent the discharge end of the cradle when that cradle is in its horizontal position. An arm I62 on the safety device is arranged to project above the conveyor 94 and to be in contact with the severed casting 93 during the period of time the casting is in the cradle and being removed therefrom by the conveyor. The arm is connected with a conventional make and break electrical contact I63 in the power circuit of the motordriven drum hoist I33 so that it is impossible to raise the cradle 9| while the severed casting 93 is being removed therefrom by the conveyor.

While in accordance with the provisions of the statutes we have illustrated and described herein the best form and mode of operation of the invention now known to us, those skilled in the art will understand that changes may be made in the form of the apparatus disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention covered by our claims, and that certain features of our invention may sometimes be used to advantage without a corresponding use of other features.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for transferring severed lengths of continuous casting from an upright receiving position to a generally horizontal discharge position including an open-ended elongated cradle open on its top side and having a series of spaced openings in its bottom side, a stop plate extend ing transversely across said cradle adjacent one end thereof to support the severed casting'therein, a hoist arranged to raise and lower said cradle, guide means including a cradle tilting support attached to said cradle on a horizontally pivoted axle positioned intermediate the length of said cradle and movable in a substantially vertical plane to direct the movement of said cradle from its upright position to a generally horizontal casting discharge position, and a plurality of conveyor rolls positioned to project through the spaced openings in the side of said cradle when in its casting discharge position and to remove the severed casting therefrom.

2. Apparatus for transporting severed lengths of continuous casting from a vertical casting receiving position to a casting discharge position including an elongated cradle open at one end and on one side and provided with a series of spaced openings in its oppostie side, a longitudinally adjustable stop plate extending transversely across said cradle to support said severed casting therein, a hoist arranged to raise and lower said cradle, guide means positioned to direct the movement of said cradle from an upright position to a horizontal position, a plurality of positively driven conveyor rolls positioned to project through the'spaced openings in the side of said cradle when in its horizontal position and to remove the severed casting therefrom, and a safety device actuated by the presence of said casting within said cradle to prevent lifting said cradle from its discharge position until said severed casting has been removed therefrom by said conveyor.

3. Apparatus for handling severed lengths of continuous casting comprising an elongated cradle open at one end and on one side and provided with a series of spaced openings in its opposite side, a stop plate extending transversely across said cradle adjacent one end thereof to support a severed casting therein, a hoist. positioned to raise and lower said cradle, guide means arranged to direct the movement of said cradle from an upright casting receiving position to a casting discharge position, a plurality of positively driven conveyor rolls positioned to project through the spaced openings in the side of 9 said cradle when in its casting discharge position and to remove the severed casting therefrom, and a shock absorbing device positioned to engage the cradle in proximity to said conveyor and to cushion the movement 01' said cradle into its casting discharge position.

4. Apparatus for handling severed lengths of continuous casting comprising an elongated cradle open at one end and {on one side and provided with a series of spaced openings in its opposite side, a plate extending transversely across said cradle to support a severed casting therein, means for maintaining a severed casting within said cradle until in" its discharge position including a power piston positioned adjacent the upper end of said cradle operative to push the casting therein toward said opposite side of the cradle, a hoist arranged to raise and lower said cradle, guide meanspositioned to direct the movement 01. said cradle from an upright casting receiving position to a generally horizontal casting discharge position, means for retarding the final movement of. said cradle into its delivery position, and a plurality of positively driven conveyor rolls positioned to project through the spaced openings in the side of said cradle when in its casting discharge position and to remove the severed casting therefrom.

5. Apparatus for handling severed lengths of continuous casting comprising an elongated cradle open at one end and on one side and provided with a series of spaced openings in its opposite side, a stop plate extending transversely across said cradle to support a severed casting therein, a hoist positioned to raise and lower said cradle, guide means arranged to direct the movement of said cradle from an upright position to a casting discharge position, a pneumatic shock absorbing device for retarding the final movement of said cradle into said casting discharge position, a plurality of positively driven conveyor rolls positioned to project through the spaced openings in the side 01 said cradle when in its casting discharge position and to remove the severed casting therefrom, and electric interlocking means actuated by the presence of the severed casting within said cradle to maintain said hoist inoperative when said conveyor is discharging said casting from the cradle.

ISAAC HARTER, JR.

GEORGE A. PUGH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

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